2026 Sponsorship Opportunities | WICEO
Wisconsin Center for Employee Ownership

2026 Sponsorship
Opportunities

Two ways to put your organization at the center of Wisconsin's growing employee ownership movement — year-round podcast presence and our annual Celebration Dinner.

Why Sponsor WICEO

Support the movement. Reach the people building it.

🎯
Professionally Engaged Audience

Connect with business owners, advisors, lenders, and policymakers actively making employee ownership decisions in Wisconsin.

🌎
Mission-Driven Impact

Your sponsorship funds WICEO's education, outreach, and transition assistance programs across the state.

📣
Year-Round Visibility

Stay in front of Wisconsin's employee ownership community through podcast episodes, events, and digital channels all year long.

🔗
EOX & NCEO Network

WICEO is part of the national EOX network and an NCEO partner — connecting your organization to a trusted, credentialed ecosystem.

01
Sponsorship Opportunity Employee Owned Wisconsin — The Podcast
About the Podcast

A year-round voice for employee ownership in Wisconsin.

JS
Joe Sapp
Executive Director, WICEO
SS
Steve Storkan
Executive Director, EOX

Employee Owned Wisconsin features in-depth conversations with business owners navigating ownership transitions, employee-owners sharing what ownership has meant for their lives, advisors and lenders making deals happen, and policy leaders shaping the future of democratic workplaces. Year-round and on-demand, the podcast builds a durable, growing audience of Wisconsin professionals actively engaged with employee ownership.

Who Listens
Wisconsin Business Owners Exploring succession & ownership transition options
Attorneys & Accountants Serving closely held Wisconsin businesses
Employee-Owners & Co-op Members Inside Wisconsin's ownership economy
Lenders & CDFIs Financing ownership transitions statewide
Economic Developers & SBDCs Building community business resilience
Policymakers & Workforce Leaders Shaping Wisconsin's economic future
Opening & closing verbal mention every episode
One co-branded episode per year
Guest appearance opportunity
Featured logo: show notes, website & newsletter
Dedicated quarterly social recognition
Logo at all WICEO events
Quarterly performance report
First right of renewal
Supporting Sponsor
$2,500 / year
Limited to 8 sponsors
Closing verbal mention every episode
Logo in show notes & podcast website
Logo on WICEO website sponsor page
Logo in WICEO monthly e-newsletter
Shared quarterly social recognition
Quarterly performance report
02
Sponsorship Opportunity Wisconsin Employee Ownership Celebration Dinner
About the Event

An evening honoring the companies and founders who bet on their workers.

📅
Date October 22, 2026
📍
Venue The Edgewater Hotel — Red Crown Club, Madison, WI
🕔
Format Reception, Dinner & Awards — 5:30 PM to close

The Wisconsin Employee Ownership Celebration Dinner brings together business owners, employee-owners, advisors, lenders, policymakers, and community leaders to celebrate companies proving that ownership works. Through inspiring stories, meaningful recognition, and a shared commitment to keeping Wisconsin businesses locally rooted, the evening raises critical support for WICEO's programs.

Evening Program
5:30 PM
Reception — cocktails, hors d'oeuvres & EO company showcase
6:30 PM
Welcome & Dinner — opening remarks from WICEO leadership
6:40 PM
Awards Ceremony — three Wisconsin employee ownership awards
7:00 PM
Keynote Speaker — Wisconsin founder or national EO thought leader
7:30 PM
Fundraising Appeal — table pledges and impact ask
7:45 PM
Networking & Close
Recognition Awards
🏆
EO Leadership Award

Recognizing an established employee-owned company with strong performance and community impact.

🌱
Legacy Preservation Award

Honoring a founder who chose employee ownership to preserve jobs and their business legacy.

Emerging EO Award

Celebrating a company that completed an ownership transition within the past three years.

Event named "presented by [Your Org]"
Speaking opportunity during the program
Logo on all materials: invitations, program & signage
Premium reserved table for 8 guests
Named award sponsorship
Press release & post-event recognition
WICEO website & newsletter as presenting sponsor
Verbal recognition by emcee throughout
Gold Sponsor
$2,500
Limited to 4
Premium reserved table for 8 guests
Logo in event program & sponsor signage
On-stage verbal recognition
Logo on WICEO website & e-newsletter
Listing in press release & post-event comms
Silver Sponsor
$1,500
Limited to 6
Reserved table for 8 guests
Name & logo in event program
Recognition on event sponsor signage
Listing on WICEO website as event sponsor
Bundle & Save
Become a WICEO Community Champion

Sponsor both the Employee Owned Wisconsin podcast and the Celebration Dinner and receive priority placement, enhanced co-branding across all WICEO channels, and recognition as a WICEO Community Champion — our highest level of organizational partnership.

Talk to Us About Bundling →

Ready to become
a sponsor?

Sponsorships are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Founding Partner and Presenting Sponsor spots are strictly limited. Reach out to Joe Sapp to reserve your sponsorship today.

jsapp@wiceo.org  ·  wiceo.org  ·  WICEO is a registered nonprofit in the State of Wisconsin